New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-06
JUDGE LYNCH ~ SOUTH CAROLINA.
ROPES FOR FIVE KNIGHTS OF THE RISING sTAI


LODGE OF MURDERERs AND PLUNDERERs
COLUMBIA, S. c., April tSpeciab-At Yorkville
this morning five negroes lynched by DO iy OF
armed white men. Lynchings have occurred here be
fore, but never have many men been lyncbcd at
once or tor crime. On the evening OF November
80 1886. little John L. Goode. age twelve Was found
living nsensible in water furrow near his home His
skull Was crushed his mouth knocked in and ms body
almost beaten into jelly He died that night. Cir
cumstances pointed TO Nose Lipsconb, Dan Roberts
Bailey DOwdle and Pint Thompson, all colored. the
parties who had killed the boy and they com
mitted to jail Pint Thompson aud Dan Roberts made
a confession duplicating other negroes in the crime
rhey were stealing basket of cotton when the boy
came upon hcm and nile held him others beat
him Nth rocks and sticks. They further confessed
that there was a combination OF about forty negroes
in the county sworn to kill any one who caught them
stealing Twenty more OF the band were arrested and
lodged in Jail. preliminary examination resulted in
all being discharged except six OF the principal actors
They callel their organization "Thc Rising Star
Lodge" Ono OF the prisoners testified that hc was
induced join the order by being told that they could
take or steal all the provis they needed Another
said that the object of the club to take whatever
tbey wanted and if detected to kill the person who de
tec.ed them. Several murders were committed in
Yorkvile which had always appeared mysterious but
every indication pointed to members OF this gang
the perpetrators
Nose L:pscomb, Dan Roberts, Bailey Dowdle Pint
THOMPSON, Giles Good and John Good were committed
to the YvrkvSls jail for murder. On the night OF
December Is it was rumored that an attempt would be
made to lynch the prisoners, and the Sheriff called out
the jenkins Rifles to guard the Jail. The next night
the Sheriff removed th, prisoners, taking them TO
railroad station twenty miles on. Shortly after his
departure hundred horsemen rode up the Jail and
broke 1t open. Tie hOrsc.nen gave chase, but tho
guards eluded them. Two days spent in the
woods before the prisoners were gotten safely the
train and brought here tor saic-keeping
The Criminal Court for Yorkvlle convened there
yesterday. On Saturday guard came from that town
and took the Elk back TO stand their trial 1t 10
probable that they would not have been mOested had
not another chapter of the crime been ended yesterday
by William T. GOode, the father OF the murdered boy,
becoming q raving maniac and being sent t. the
lunatc asylum. II further asccrtaned that the
condition of Mrs Goodies mind is little better than her
husbands and in a short time she will probably join
him in the asylum.
This caused the farmers aud friends OF the stricken
people to become infUratcd. Last night at midnight
lar out in the country baud OF began to assem-
ble All were on horseback. Just as the moon sank
bebind the horizon seventy horsemen gallOped down
the deserted street to the Jail and called to the Sheriff.
demanding the keys which promptly refused.
Iron doors were burst open and the murdercrs seized
PRAYERS for mercy, shouts and screams awoke the
ueiQhborhood. John Good was released. The other
ave were tied upon horscs. the party rtmounted and
rode away their horses the rum out Of the town and
did not halt.
In the woods mile ny ropes were put around the
neeks Of the prisoners and thrown over convenient
limbs The negroes asked for mercy, prayed and
yelled. They became utterly terror-stricken when
their last moments arrived The horses suddenly
made TO spring from under them, o volley OF pistol
shots was fred and the mob melted away In the dark
ness.
Judge Witherspoon to-day charged the Grand Jury
that his ives like the Edgeded csseone that the Jaw
could not reech-and they need hardly investigate II
further than TO vindicate the Sheri&.